Rhett walks over to Ash’s mother and shows her the pictures and the birth cert. I share a look with Ash and then one with Jase. It’s clear this is news to them too. Bree stares at me strangely, and I wonder what that’s all about.
“I knew Clint,” Pamela says, effectively claiming my attention. “He was a couple of years older than me, and all the girls in our circle were madly in love with him. He was one of the good guys. There are so few of them in our world,” she adds, side-eying Rhett with unconcealed venom, “that he stood out.” Her eyes soften as she looks at me. “I don’t know why I didn’t see it before, but you are so like him.”
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Ash says. “Why would Hera lie about this to her own son? It makes no sense.”
“It makes perfect sense,” Pamela replies.
Rhett bobs his head, urging her to continue. Maybe he thinks I’ll accept it easier from Pamela, but the woman means nothing to me, and I trust her about as much as I trust him.
“Clinton Salinger was murdered by zealots from a religious organization who had discovered part of the truth about The Luminaries. Daphne and Blade disappeared the next day. My brother told me they deployed considerable efforts for years trying to find them, but when no trace could be found, they assumed they’d been killed too.”
“Daphne had help.” Rhett rubs a hand along his smooth chin. “It’s the only explanation that makes sense. There’s no way she could’ve concealed herself and her children without help.”
“I don’t know what the truth is anymore.” Pamela squirms a little in her chair as she looks at me. A grimace flashes across her face, and it’s obvious she’s in pain. “But I believe you are Clint’s son. The resemblance is too strong for it not to be so. And I know that Hera is a good woman. I didn’t know her well back then, but I spoke with Daphne a few times at official events. Her goodness shone like a beacon. Her and your father were so in love, and they gave all of us hope.”
Her comments are cryptic, and I plan to interrogate her when we get out of here.Ifwe get out of here, because I still don’t know what this dickhole wants with all of us.
“If your mother went to great lengths to conceal your identity, even from you, she had a damn good reason for doing it. She was protecting you, Ares. I would stake my life on it.”
“I agree,” Rhett says as his phone vibrates in his pocket.
“I don’t understand why she would come back though,” Pamela muses.
At least that one I know the answer to.
“We need to make a move.” Rhett scowls at whatever he sees on his phone. He lifts his head and stares at me. “I need to give you a Luminary crash course and explain our history. Ashley, Jase, and Bree can fill you in on some of it. I will need you at the meeting with the board, and we must organize your initiation.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ash jerk at his words.
I have no idea what any of it means, but I’d rather we are released, and I can ask Ash at home.
“How do you plan to remove Walter and instate Ares in his place?” Bree asks.
“You don’t need to worry about the minor details. I have it covered. For now, just focus on planning your wedding.”
Bree’s eyes fly over my head to Ash, and I frown, hating to be so in the dark.
I’m not expecting Jase to take pity on me, but he does. “I’ll give you the CliffsNotes version,” he says, staring at me. “Rhett here is staging a hostile takeover, and he needs all of us to achieve his nefarious plan. You’re to marry my sister and take control of the Pride & Wrath Luminary. Then you will vote him and his new structure into place.”
I bark out a laugh. I know crazy, but this is some super weird crazy shit. I half expect to wake up and discover it’s some creepy dream. I smirk at the delusional jerk. “I don’t know what shit you’re smoking, asshole, but I’m not marrying anyone or taking control of anything.”
He returns my smirk and then some. “You are going to do exactly what I say, and you won’t argue with anything.”
“Oh, yeah?” I ask, humoring him. “And why is that?”
“I know where Lilianna is.”
All the blood drains from my face.
“If you want to see your little sister again, you will obey me, or I’ll see to it that she dies.”
ChapterThree
Jase
Ares lunges at Rhett, the chair breaking underneath him, and the motion sends wooden shards scattering across the room. Carter’s henchman grabs him before he can reach the Greed & Gluttony Luminary. Pity. I would pay good money to watch Ares go nuclear on his ass.
I have never liked Rhett Carter. Often wondered how Knight turned out so decent when his parents are total assholes. But it’s obvious we have all underestimated his father. The shit that’s gone down today is clearly years in the making. He’s been playing nice with the other Luminaries on the surface while plotting to stab them in the back behind the scenes.
